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The Carbon Footprint of Electrified City Buses: A Case Study in Trondheim, Norway

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  • Kristoffer W. Lie

    (Department of Energy and Process Engineering & ENERSENSE, Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet, 7491 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Trym A. Synnevåg

    (Department of Energy and Process Engineering & ENERSENSE, Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet, 7491 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Jacob J. Lamb

    (Department of Energy and Process Engineering & ENERSENSE, Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
    Department of Electronic Systems & ENERSENSE, Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet, 7034 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Kristian M. Lien

    (Department of Energy and Process Engineering & ENERSENSE, Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet, 7491 Trondheim, Norway)

Abstract

In August 2019, a new bus fleet of 36 electric and 58 hybrid buses were implemented in Trondheim, Norway. This paper examines the carbon footprint of electrified city buses, by addressing the achieved and potential reduction for the new bus fleet. Important aspects such as geographical location of production, charging electricity mix, and impact from production and operation on lifetime emissions, are also examined. A meta-analysis on life cycle assessment studies was undertaken to investigate greenhouse gas emissions and energy demand in different parts of bus production. This is followed by the production of a bus model using the findings and comparing electrified buses with diesel and HVO buses. The models were then used in a case study of the bus fleet in Trondheim, to understand the specific parameters affecting the carbon footprint. The results show that the overall carbon footprint has been considerably reduced (37%) by implementing biofuel and electrified buses, and that a further reduction of 52% can be achieved through full electrification. The operation emissions for the fleet were found to be 49 g CO 2 -eq/person-km, which is lower than the average city bus and passenger car in Norway.

Suggested Citation

  • Kristoffer W. Lie & Trym A. Synnevåg & Jacob J. Lamb & Kristian M. Lien, 2021. "The Carbon Footprint of Electrified City Buses: A Case Study in Trondheim, Norway," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:3:p:770-:d:491245
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    Cited by:

    1. Marcin Połom, 2021. "Technology Development and Spatial Diffusion of Auxiliary Power Sources in Trolleybuses in European Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-18, May.
    2. Sanchari Deb & Xiao-Zhi Gao, 2022. "Prediction of Charging Demand of Electric City Buses of Helsinki, Finland by Random Forest," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-18, May.
    3. Aleksander Chudy & Piotr Hołyszko & Paweł Mazurek, 2022. "Fast Charging of an Electric Bus Fleet and Its Impact on the Power Quality Based on On-Site Measurements," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-16, July.
    4. Le Quyen Luu & Eleonora Riva Sanseverino & Maurizio Cellura & Hoai-Nam Nguyen & Hoai-Phuong Tran & Hong Anh Nguyen, 2022. "Life Cycle Energy Consumption and Air Emissions Comparison of Alternative and Conventional Bus Fleets in Vietnam," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-15, September.
    5. Lim, Lek Keng & Muis, Zarina Ab & Ho, Wai Shin & Hashim, Haslenda & Bong, Cassendra Phun Chien, 2023. "Review of the energy forecasting and scheduling model for electric buses," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PD).

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